Skip to main content

What am I like when I am well?

What am I like when I am well?

I laugh a lot, but I don't smile at the same things as other people. Sometimes, I'll smile at the color of a hair band but not at the present you just gave me, even though I'm super excited about the present.

Oh, yeah, you mean psych things. Well, I hear things you can't hear. I mean that literally. My hearing is very sensitive, and my brain doesn't tune things out as much as other people's brains do, so I notice tiny sounds. I have auditory hallucinations, too, though. Usually, it's just knocking or laughter, but once, I was treated to a surround-sound heavy metal concert that wasn't really happening. The lyrics were, "You broke the peanut butter jar!" Haha!

I like logic puzzles, and I work through my homework from college again just for fun, but I can have trouble focusing, too. I also get migraines.

At night time, I have paranoia and am afraid of monsters, but I don't have immersive delusions when I'm well. When I'm well, I don't hear voices or have complex visual hallucinations. I'm not depressed or suicidal, and I don't have generalized anxiety. Even though I still have flashbacks, I consider those being unwell.

I still have nightmares when I'm well, though, and I still see steam or lights that aren't there. I don't see shadows much when I'm well, though. My hallucinations aren't accompanied by fear when I am well. That's the main difference.

I have social anxiety when I'm well, and I'm still autistic. I still get overwhelmed by sensory stimuli and tasks and have meltdowns and shutdowns. I might hit myself in this state, but I don't scratch or cut myself on purpose when I'm well.

So, that's what I'm like when I'm well, pysch maintenance report, and I've added it to my blog for the world to see my "normal." I'll add, too, that I have a rich, fulfilling life, full of wonderful people, art, and discoveries, and I'm very glad to be alive. Medication has made my life better, as has access to services. I am grateful.

Note: I'll probably edit this blog for style and wording later, but I'm going to go ahead and schedule it for publication now.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Increasing my Testosterone Dosage

TW: Body changes, sexual changes, suicide mention   I started low-dose testosterone on February 1, 2016 . My step-dad had just taken his own life, and I felt the need to take control of mine. I was on testosterone for a long time before I was sure that I really wanted to be on it- that it was the decision that would reduce dysphoria the most for my nonbinary self. Part of this indecisiveness came from my autism; I've always had trouble making decisions due to being overwhelmed by the options and fearing regret. I talked a lot with my therapist about my uncertainty around testosterone, and the ongoing theme was that I was happy about the current changes; I was just afraid that I would regret future changes. So, I stayed on testosterone, reasoning that I could always go off of it if the changes started causing dysphoria from being too masculine. Since then, I've started trying my hand at online dating. Through answering the many, many questions on the sites, building my profil...

Distress Tolerance Skills Part 2: Reality Acceptance Skills

All posts in this series reference working through DBT® Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition , and all quotes come from that book unless otherwise specified. To learn more about distress tolerance skills as a whole, why they are important, and the goals the book sets forth for studying them, click here . The Distress Tolerance Skills section of the book is divided into two main types of handouts: Crisis Survival and Reality Acceptance. There will also be some material for "When the Crisis is Addiction". This blog will cover reality acceptance skills.  Reality Acceptance Skills: Radical Acceptance:  The first reality acceptance skill is radical acceptance. Radical acceptance means completely accepting and ceasing to fight: the facts about the past and the present realistic limitations on the future that even painful events have causes that life can "be worth living even with painful events in it"  Some phrases for practicing radical...

Make Doctor's Appointments Easier

As a chronically ill person, I spend a lot of time at doctor's appointments, and, as a chronically ill, autistic, and mentally ill person, I find them overwhelming and draining. I want to talk about some of the things I do to make them easier for myself. Use mobility aids - If you use mobility aids, and your doctor is understanding about it, they can make the trip a lot easier. One mobility aid I use is forearm crutches.   Make visit notes ahead-of-time - I try to make my notes complete enough that I can hand them to the doctor if I'm having trouble with verbal communication. I take notes in my planner.   Present accommodation needs in writing- Carry a printed report of your accommodation needs to each appointment, and present one to each doctor's office to have on file. Discuss it with your doctor. Use an AAC program - Personal Favorites are Talk for Me for laptop and tablet and Speech Assistant for mobile. These are good if you prefer text-based AAC. I use Let Me ...